Brake



' March 4, 1947. J. slMANr-:K

BRAKE Filed Jan. 22,1944

3 Sheets-Shet. 1

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March 4, 19147. E. J. SIMANEK BRAKE Filed Jan. 22, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR March 4, 1947. E, l 1, S|MANEK 2,416,960

' BRAKE Filed Jan. 22, 1944 s sheets-sheet s Patented Mar. 4, 1947 UNITED'STATES PATENT OFFICE BRAKE Edward El. Sima-nek, Chicago, Ill., assignor to American.Steel Foundries, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of New Jersey Application January 22, 1944, Serial No. 519,286

(Cl. 18S- 56) 24 Claims. l

My invention relates to brakes and more particularly to a novel brake arrangement for a railway car truck.

Thel general object of my invention is to design a novel clasp brake rigging in which brake drums, as well as the truck wheels, are engaged by clasp brake means.

A specific object of my invention is to design a brake rigging such as above described in which a pair of beams are suspended at opposite sides of each wheel, said beams carrying friction means for engagement with said wheel and with a brake drum rotatable therewith andadjacent thereto. The beams are operatively connected to interconnected live and dead truck levers.

In one embodiment of .my invention the beams are provided with trunnion ends for pivotal connection to brake hangers and to the associated brake heads, and in another illustrated embodiment of my invention, the ends of the beams are received within slots through the brake heads and are pivoted thereto on substantially vertical axes to afford equalization of Wear of the con tacting surfaces of the brake shoes and the wheel and drum respectively, the heads being pivoted Vto hangers which are mounted on the truck frame.

In the drawings,

Figure 1 is a fragmentary top plan viewof a railway car truck embodying my invention, only one-half of the truck being illustrated inasmuch as it is symmetrical about its longitudinally center line.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the structure shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional View taken in the planes indicated by the line 3-3 of Figure l.

Figure 4 is an end view taken from the left as seen in Figures 1 and 2.

Figures 5 and 6 illustrate a modification of my invention, Figure 5 being a fragmentary top plan View of the truck, and Figure 6 being a fragmentary side elevation.

In each of said figures certain details maybe omitted where more clearly seen in other views.

Describing my invention in detail and referring first to the embodiment thereof illustrated in Figures 1 to 4 inclusive, the truck frame generally designated 2 comprises aside rail 4 at each side thereof merging with the end rails 5, 6 and the spaced intermediate transoms 8, 8, said trandepending pedestal legs or jaws Iii, II) adapted ically indicated at I l, said resilient means aiiordsoms being formed and arranged in conventional manner for the suspension of a'truck bolster (not shown) disposed therebetween. The side rail is formed adjacent each end thereof with the spaced ing support in the usual manner for the side rail i of the truck frame.

Intermediate the wheel and axle assemblies i2, I2 are the brake beams I6, I 6 having trunnion ends pivoted to the inboard and outboard hangers 29 and 22 connected respectively at 24 and 26 to brackets 28 and 30, the bracket 28 being formed on the adjacent transom 8, and the bracket 3i) being formed on the gusset 32 at the juncture of the transom 8 with the side rail 4. Each beam I6 is pivoted intermediate its ends at 34, as best seen in the left half of Figure 1, to a jaw 36 pivotally connected as at 38 to the lower end of the adjacent live truck lever llt, said jaw also being pivotally connected at 42 to a balance hanger 44 pivoted to a balance hanger bracket 48 mounted at 5E) on the adjacent gusset 32.

Outboardly of the wheel and axle assemblies I2, I2 are the brakebeams 52, 52 substantially identical in form with the beams I6, I6 and comprising trun-nion ends pivotally mounted on the inboard and outboard hangers 5d and 56, said hangers being pivoted respectively at 58 and I to brackets 62 and 64, the inboard bracket 62 being formed on the end rail 6, and the outboard bracket 54 being formed on the side rail 4 adjacent its juncture with the end rail 6. A jaw 66 is pivotally connected at 68 to each beam 52 intermediate its ends, said jaw being pivotally connected at 'I to the lower end of the adjacent dead truck lever '12, the upper end of said dead truck lever being pivotally connected at 'I4 to the bracket l@ mounted as at 13, 18 on the side rail 5.

The trunnion ends of the beams I6, I6 and 52, 52 support brake heads 80, 80 carrying friction shoes 82, 82 for engagement respectively with the drums I4, I4 and the wheels of the wheel and axle assemblies I2, I2. The arrangement of the brake heads 89, and their connection to the beams is illustrated at the left end of Figure 2 and in the end view of Figure 4.

The live and dead truck levers 4u and 12 associated with each wheel of the wheel and axle assemblies I2, I2 are connected by a pull rodf which is pivoted at one end thereof as at B6 to the dead truck lever 'F2 and pivoted at theopposite end thereof as at 88 to the live truck lever 40.

A power cylinder device 95 is secured as at 92, 92 to the side rail 4, and the piston rod 9!! of said device is pivotally connected at 95 to the outboard end of the live cylinder lever 98, said cy1- inder lever being pivotally and adjustably connected at to the pull rod |02, the opposite end of which is pivotally and adjustably connected at |64 to the dead cylinder lever |06, the outboard end of which is pivotally connected at |08 to the slack adjuster device H6 secured as at ||2, ||2 to the power cylinder device 90. The inboard end of each cylinder lever is pivotally connected at I4 to a pull rod or link I6, theopposite end of which is pivotally connected at H8 to the upper end of the adjacent live truck lever 40, and each cylinder lever is afforded slidable support adjacent its inboard 'end by means of the support bracket |20 secured as at |22 to the adjacent gusset 32. The live cylinder lever 98 is afforded additional support adjacent its outboard end by means of the bracket |24 secured as at |26, |26 to the outboardedge of the side rail 4.

During actuation of my novel brake rigging, the piston rod 9d moves to the left as seen in Figure 1, causing the live cylinder lever 98 to rotate in a clockwise direction about the pivot point Ille, thus causing the associated pull rod or link ||6 to move to the right, as seen in Figure 2, whereby the associated live truck lever 46 is ro-tated in a clockwise direction 4about its pivot point 88, the pull rod 3d causing the deadjtruck lever '|2 at the left of Figure 2 to rotate in a counterclockwise direction about its pivot point '14,' At the same time', thepull rod I D2 moves to the left as se'en in Figure 1, thusV actuating the brake rigging at the right end of the truck through the dead cylinder lever |06 in substantially the reverse of the manner described for the rigging at the left end of the truck. It will be understood that the pivotal connection of the beams l5, I6 to the jaws 36, 36 affords equalized pressure by the brake shoes 82, 82 against the drums lll, lli and the wheels of the wheel and axle assemblies I2, I2.Y Y

A modication of my invention is illustrated in Figures and 6 wherein the truck frame generally designated |52 is supported at'each end thereof from a wheel and axle assembly |54 as in the previously described embodiment, the wheel and axle assembly |54 comprising a brake drum |56 adjacent each wheel, It will be understood that the arrangement shown in Figures 5 and 6 is identical with that illustrated in Figures 1 to 4 except for the fact that each brake beam.

|58 is received at each end thereof within a slot |66 in the associated brake head |62 and pivoted thereto as at |6Ii on a substantially vertical axis, the brake heads |82, |62 carrying brake shoes |66,

|68 for engagement respectively with the drumV |55 and the wheel |68 of the wheel and axle as-' ed at 73 Vto a hanger |85, `the upper end of which` is pivotally connected atY |82 to the bracket |84 formed on the' end rail |56 of the truck frame |52.

Vend of the dead truck lever |94, the upper end oi' which is pivotally fulcrumed at 55 to the bracket |95 secured to the truck frame as in the previcusly described embodiment, Intermediate its ends the dead truck lever is pivotally connected at 256 to a pull rod 262, the opposite end of which is connected to the associated live truck lever as in the arrangement illustrated in Figures l to 4.

It will be understood that the left end only of the truck is illustrated in Figures 5 and 6., inas- V much Yas the only difference between this ar Aja-w |38 Yis pivotally connected at Milli-tothe` Y brake beam |58 intermediate its ends, saidl'jaw being pivotally connected v`lat |92 tothe lower rangement and that previously described is themanner in which the brake heads are connected to the beam |58 and to the hangers |12 and |85.

It will also be understood that the connec- Y ticn between the brake beam |58 and the shoes f |62, |62, as illustrated in Figures 5 and 6, faciiitates equalization of wear of the contacting surfaces of the shoes |66, |65 against the drum |55 and the wheel |58 respectively.

It is to be understood that I do not wish to be limited by the exact embodiments of the device shown which are merely by way of illustration and not limitation as vario-us and other forms of the device will, of course, be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims.

I claim: f Y 1. In a brake arrangement for a railway car truck comprising a truck frame and spaced supporting wheel and axle assemblies each including an axle, spaced wheels mounted thereon and brake drums adjacent respective wheels, brake i rigging comprising brake beams ateachlside of the truck, said beams lbeing disposed at opposite sides of the associated wheels, friction means carried by each beam for engagement with the adjacent wheel and the associated disc, live truck levers connected to the beams inwardly oi said assemblies, dead truck levers connectedito theY beams outwardly of said assemblies, pull rods com necting the adjacent live and dead truck levers, and operating means associated with the live truck levers, said operating means comprising` a power cylinder device mounted on said frame, in-

terconnected liver and dead cylinder levers con-l nected to opposite ends of said device, and an operative connection between each cylinder lever,Y

and the adjacent live truck lever. l 2. In a brake arrangementior a railway car truck, a truck frame, spaced supporting wheel and axle assemblies each comprising an axle with a wheel mounted thereon adjacent each end .Y

thereof and a brake disc adjacent each wheel,

brake rigging for each side of the truck 'comprising brake beams at opposite sides of eachV assembly, brake shoes carried by the outboardA ends of said beams for .engagement with said wheel, other brake shoes carried by the inboardY der levers connected to.. opposite ends of said device, and an operative connection between each cylinder lever and the adjacent live truck lever. i V3. In a brake arrangement for a railway car truck, a truck frame, a supporting wheel and axle assembly` comprising an axle, a wheel thereon,

and a brake drum adjacent said wheel, interconnected live anddea dv truck levers disposed intermediate said drum and said wheel,y abrake beam operatively connected substantially midway between its ends to each of said levers, brake shoes carried by the inboard ends ofv said' beams and formed and arranged for braking engagement with said drum, brake shoes carried by the outboard ends of said beams and formed and arranged for braking engagement with said wheel, and operating means connected to the live truck lever, said operating means comprising a power cylinder device, mounted on said frame, a cylinder lever connected at its outboard end to said' device and at its inboardy end to said live truck lever, and a fulcrum for said cylinder lever intermediate its ends.

4. In a brake arrangement for a railwaycar truck, a truck frame, spaced supporting wheel and axle assemblies each comprising an axle with a wheel mounted thereon and a brake disc adjacent said wheel, brake beams at opposite sides of each wheel, friction means carried by corresponding ends of said beams for engagement with said Wheel, other friction means carried by opposite corresponding ends of said beams for engagement with the associated disc, jaws pivotally connected to respective beams approximately midway intermediate the ends thereof, interconnected live and dead truck levers connected to respective jaws, and operating means for said live truck levers, said operating means comprising a power cylinder device mounted on said frame, interconnected live and dead cylinder levers operatively connected to opposite ends of said device, and an operative connection bef tween each cylinder lever and the adjacent live truck lever.

5. In a brake arrangement for a railway car truck, a truck frame, spaced supporting wheel and axle assemblies each comprising an axle with spaced Wheels mounted thereon and a brake disc adjacent each wheel, brake beams at opposite sides of each wheel, brake shoes carried by corresponding ends of said beams for engagement with said wheel, other brake shoes carried by the opposite corresponding ends of said beams for engagement with the associated disc, interconnected live and dead truck levers connected to respective beams intermediate their ends, a power cylinder device on each side of said frame, interconnected live and dead cylinder levers connected to opposite ends of said device, and an operative connection between each cylinder lever and the adjacent live truck lever.

6. In a brake arrangement for a railway car truck comprising a truck frame and spaced supporting wheel and axle assemblies each including an axle, spaced wheels mounted thereon and brake drums adjacent respective wheels, brake rigging comprising brake beams at each side of the truck, said beams being disposed at opposite sides of the associated wheels, friction means carried by each beam for engagement with the adjacent wheel and the associated disc, live truck levers connected to the beams inwardly of said assemblies, dead truck levers connected to the beams outwardly of said assemblies, pull rods connecting the adjacent live and dead truck levers, and operating means associated with the live truck levers.

7. In a brake arrangement for a railway car truck comprising a truck frame and spaced supporting wheel and axle assemblies each including an axle, spaced wheels thereon, and brake drums adjacent said wheels, brake rigging comprising bra-ke beams at opposite sides oi4 each Wheel', means suspending said beams at opposite ends thereof from said frame, brake shoes carried by each beam at opposite ends thereof for braking engagement with the wheel and the adjacent drum respectively, and actuating means for said beams, said actuating means comprising jaws pivoted to said beams approximately midway intermediate their ends, interconnected live and dead truck levers pivotallyl connected to the jaws on respective beams; and operating means for said live truck lever.

8. In a brake arrangement, a vehicle frame, a supporting wheel and axle assembly comprising a wheel and an adjacent brake drum, brake beams at opposite sides of said assembly, each of said beams carrying at opposite ends thereof friction means for engagement with said wheel and said drum respectively, interconnected live and dead levers operatively connected to respective beams, and operating means for said live levers, said operating means comprising a power cylinder device on said frame, a cylinder lever connected at its outboard end to said device and at its inboard end to said live truck lever, and a iulcrum for said cylinder lever intermediate its ends.

9. In a brake arrangement for a railway car truck, a truck frame, a supporting wheel and axle assembly comprising an axle, spaced wheels thereon and a brake drum adjacent each wheel,

and 'brake rigging comprising live and dead truck levers at opposite sides of said assembly adjacent cach wheel, clasp brake means for said wheel and the adjacent drum, an operative connection between said clasp brake means and said levers, and operating means comprising a power cylinder device on said frame, a cylinder lever connected at its outboard end to said device and at its inboard end to said live truck lever, and a iulcrum for said cylinder lever intermediate its ends.

l0. In a brake arrangement for railway car truck, a truck frame, a supporting wheel and axle assembly comprising an axle, spaced wheels thereon and a brake drum adjacent each wheel, and brake rigging comprising live and dead truck levers at opposite sides of said assembly adjacent each wheel, 'clasp brake means for said wheel and vthe adjacent drum, an operative connection between said clasp brake means and said levers, and operating means for said live iever, said clasp brake means comprising brake beams hung from the frame and carrying shoes at their opposite for cooperation with the peripheries of said wheel and said drum respectively.

il. In a brake arrangement for a railway car truck, a. truck frame, a supporting wheel and axle assembly comprising an axle, a wheel thereon, and a brake drum adjacent said wheel, interconnectedlive and dead trucl; lever-s disposed intermediate said drum and said wheel, a brake beam operatively connected substantially midway between its ends to each of said levers, brake shoes carried by the inboard ends of said beams and .formed and arranged for braking engagement with said drum, brake shoes carried by the out? board ends of said beams and formed and arranged for braking engagement with said wheel, and operating means connected to the live truck lever.

l2. In a brake arrangement for a railway car truck, a, truck frame, spaced supporting wheel and axle assemblies each comprising an axle with wheels mounted thereon and a brake disc adjacent each wheel, a pair of spaced independent 7 brake beams at each side of each assembly, friction means directly mounted on Corresponding ends of said beams for engagement with said wheels, other friction means directly mounted on opposite corresponding lends of saidV beams for engagement with the associated discs, jaws pivotally connected to respective beams approximately midway intermediate the ends thereof, interconnected live and dead truckv levers connected to respective jaws, and operating means for said live truck levers.

13. In a brake arrangement for a railway car truck, a truck frame, spaced supporting wheel and axle assemblies each comprising an axle with spaced wheels mounted thereon, and a brake disc 1Q` and outboard ends on'each beam, friction shoes,`

adjacent each wheel, brake beams at opposite sides of each wheel, brake shoes carried by the outboard ends of said beams for engagement with 4said wheel, other brake shoes carried by the inboard ends of said beams for engagement with the associated disc, jaws pivotally connected to respective beams approximately midway intermediate the ends thereof, interconnected live and dead truck levers connected to respective jaws,v

and operating means for said live truck levers.

11i. In a brake arrangement for a railway car truck, a truck frame, a supporting wheel and axle assembly' comprising an axle, spaced wheels thereon and a brake drum adjacent each wheel, and brake rigging Comprising live and dead truck levers at opposite sides of said assembly adjacent each wheel, clasp brake means for said wheel and the adjacent drum, an operative connection betweensaid clasp brake means and said levers, and operating means for said live levers.

In a brake arrangement for a wheel and axle assembly comprising a wheel and a brake drum adjacent thereto, interconnected live and dead truck levers at opposite sides of said assembly, said levers being disposed intermediate said drum and said wheel, a brake beam at each side of saidassembly and operatively connected intermediate its ,ends to the associated lever, brake shoes carried by eacn beam at opposite ends .thereof for cooperation respectively withsaid wheei and said drum, and operating means for said live lever. v i v In s, brake arrangement, a vehicle frame, a supporting wheel and axle assembly comprising wheels and adjacent brake drum-s, spaced independent brake beams at each side of said assembly, each of said beams having directly mounted thereon at opposite ends thereof friction means 8 adjacent each wheel comprising interconnected live Vand dead substantially vertical levers at opposite sides'of said assembly adjacent each wheel, and wheel and drum engaging shoes operatively connected to each lever, said levers being disposed inboard the .wheel and outboard the drum.

19. `In a braise arrangement, a vehicle frame, a supporting wheel and axle assembly comprising a wheel and an adjacent brake drum, brake beams Y at opposite sides of said wheel and drum, inboard directly and pivotally connected to each of said ends for engagement Withsaid wheel and drum Arespectively, and interconnected live and dead` levers operatively connected to respective beams intermediate the inboard and outboard ends thereof. Y Y

20. In a brake arrangement, a vehicle frame, a supporting wheel and axle assembly comprising a wheel and an adjacent brake drum, brake beams at opposite sides of said wheel and drum, inboard and outboard ends on each beam, friction means carried by each of said ends for engagement with said wheel and drum respectively, and intercon. Y nected live and dead levers operatively connected.

to `respective beams, said levers being disposed inboard the wheel and outboard the drum.

21. In a brake arrangement, a vehicle frame,

a supporting wheel and axle assembly comprising Y a wheel and an adjacent brake drum,V brake beams at opposite sides of said wheel and drum,

for engagement with a wheel and the adjacent` n drumrespectively, interconnectedlive and dead levers operatively connected to respective beams, and operatingmeans for said live levers.

17. In aV brake arrangement for a railway car truck, a truck frame, a supporting wheel and axle assembly comprising a wheel and a brake drum spaced therefrom, substantially vertical interconnected live and dead truck levers at opposite sides Yof said assembly, and clasp brake means for said levers being disposed in a vertical plane passing between said wheel and drum. Y A

18. A duplex clasp brake arrangement fora wheel 'and axle assembly having a brake drum drum and said wheel, said clasp brake means being operatively associated with said levers, said inboard and outboard'ends on each beam, fricer tion means carried by each of said ends for engagement with said wheel and drum respectively, and means operatively connected to eachbeam between the friction means carried'thereby.

22. In a brake arrangement, a vehicle frame, a supporting Wheel and axle comprising a Wheel and an adjacent brake drum, clasp brake means for said wheel and drum, and means operatively connected to said clasp brake means and disposed in a plane passing between said wheel and drum.

23. InV a brake arrangement, a vehicle frame',`

' REFERENCES CTED The following references are of record in the fileof Vthis patent:

Y UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name, Date 2,155,222Y Farmer Apr, 18, 1939 2,077,662 Baselt Apr. 20, 1937 2,211,916` Farmer Aug. 20, 194,0 1,921,599

Aurien A1158, 1933Y passing between said 

